Sellout Crowd For Farm Aid

A sold-out crowd of 23,000 people listened to Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and other performers Sunday at Farm Aid '99.

The all-day event, the latest in a series of fund-raisers for farmers that started in 1985, comes at a time when many East Coast growers are facing a severe drought.

Glenda Yoder, Farm Aid associate director, said there was no specific fund-raising goal for this year's event. "The focus is very much on the awareness as well," she said.

The concert at Nissan Pavilion was broadcast on cable's Country Music Television.

Since it began, Farm Aid has given $14.5 million to more than 100 farm organizations, churches and service groups in 44 states. One recipient was the Virginia Council of Churches, which is distributing $20,000 to Virginia farmers hit hard by the drought.

Jim McDonald, the council's general minister, said the group already has given money to farmers from Pulaski in the southwest mountains to Manassas in northern Virginia.

The variety of acts including Bare Naked Ladies, the Dave Matthews Band, Deana Carter and Farm Aid founders Nelson, Mellencamp and Neil Young drew an eclectic crowd aging men wearing cowboy hats mixed with youngsters with belly-button rings.

Pam Reed, 35, of Centreville said she has always donated $75 to $100 to Farm Aid but never had the opportunity to attend the concert until this year. She said farmers deserve support because "this is where our food comes from."

The concert about 30 miles west of Washington, D.C., will be followed by a rally Monday of farmers at the Capitol.

CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports on Farmers Living Hand To Mouth.